Friction-brake.



R. E. RUDOLPH.

FRICTION BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1911.

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R. E. RUDOLPH.

FRICTION BRAKE. APPLICATION IILEDAUG. s, 1911.

1,058,336, Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

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ROBERT E. RUDOLPH, or PADUCAI-I, KENTUCKY.

FRICTION-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

Application filed August 8, 1911. Serial No. 643,001.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. RUDOLPH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paducah, in the county of McCracken and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Friction-Brakes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to friction brakes and particularly to that type which are adaptable for traction cars or the like.

The object of the invention is the provision of a simple, inexpensive and efficient device by which the speed of the car may be used as a braking power to stop the same.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for operating a winding drum for the brake by contacting the same with the track wheel, and for connecting the drum to brake mechanism whereby predetermined pressures according to the friction desired my be secured.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the brake mechanism shown applied to a single truck. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of thedevice.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 represents an ordinary single truck which is provided with the usual bolster 2 and has an axle 3 journaled therein with the track Wheel 4 thereon. Pivotally mounted upon the top of the bolster is a brake lever 5 which is controlled by the brake rods or chains 6 extending toward either end of the car and adapted to be operated by the usual winding staff controlledby the motorman. Connected to the brake rod at one side thereof is a link 7 whose opposite end is pivoted to a lever 8 fulcrumed upon a bracket 9 extending laterally from the bolster 2 and having connection at its opposite end with a shaft bearing 10. This shaft bearing is pivotally supported upon a bracket arm 11 the latter being pivotally connected to the free end of a cross arm 11 more clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, and the said bearing loosely surrounds a drum shaft 12 which has oneend journaled in a bracket 13 pivoted upon an arm 14 as shown at 14, said arm extending laterally from the bolster 2, and Whose opposite end has secured to it a friction wheel 15 which is adapted to engage the track wheel 4. The bracket 13 is bifurcated and between the legs thereof a drum 16 is secured to the shaft 12 upon which is adapted to wind a chain or cable 17 The opposite end of this chain or cable is connected-to a floating lever 18 which is pivoted upon the car sill 19, and has connected intermediate its ends a chain 20 which is secured to the usual brake rigging including an equalizing lever 21 and the regular brake rods 22.

In the operation of the device the motorman or brakeman rotates the customary brake staff Which is connected to and winds up on the rods 6, thus pulling upon the lever 5 and lever 8 through the link 7 and throwing the friction wheel 15 into engagement with the track wheel 4, the pivoted bracket 18 permitting such movement of the shaft 12. When the friction wheel is in tight engagement with the track wheel 4 and the vehicle is moving in either direction, the chain 17 is wound up upon the drum 16 and the regular brake rigging operated through the lever 18 and chain 20. By alternately releasing and applying the wheel 15, the car may be brought to a standstill without jerking and in an even and smooth manner.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is In a device of the class described, the combination with a truck having a bolster and an axle, said axle having track wheels thereon, of a bifurcated bracket having legs .pivoted upon one of the side faces of the bolster and projecting laterally therefrom, a shaft journaled in said bracket, a drum carried by said shaft, said shaft being disposed between the legs of said bifurcated bracket, another bracket extending laterally from the bolster in spaced relation to the former mentioned bracket, a friction wheel carried by the end of the shaft, a lever upon the latter mentioned bracket for throwing the shaft to bring the friction wheel into engagement with the track wheel to wind the drum carried by the shaft, :1 flexible connec- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature tion between the Winding drum and the in presence of two witnesses.

brake rigging and means for operating said ROBERT E RUDOLPH. lever from either end of the car, whereby the friction Wheel is thrown into engage Witnesses:

ment with the track Wheel and the flexible C. L. BRENNAN,

connection Wound upon the drum. V WV. J. WRIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

